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An Acceptable Fast

March 5, 2025

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 | Isaiah 58:1-12 |  2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 | Matt 6:1-6, 16-21 |  Psalm 103

“Hey, you’ve got something on your forehead.” Yes, today’s that day. The day when we’re reminded that we are merely dust. Our dirty foreheads are a visible reminder of our mortality, our sinfulness, and our need for a Savior. Young, old, rich, poor; today is the day that the entire Church is invited “…to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” (BCP, 263)  

Years ago, a church friend of mine told me that they had stopped attending Easter Sunday services. “We’ve heard it all before. We know the story.” I guess I understand that, but I think it is sad. The story may have become familiar to them, but had what God was doing-the movement of the Holy Spirit in the world around them-lost its luster too?  I wonder if after so many Advents, Ash Wednesdays, Lents, Pentecosts–you name it, some of us might get a little jaded. Or we might just be a little too comfortable thinking that we’ve got all figured out.  

The Litany of Penitence in the Ash Wednesday Liturgy calls us to confess (personally and corporately) the following sins:

our sins against God and our neighbors, our willingness to unforgive, our ‘deafness’ to our call to serve as Christ served us, our unfaithfulness to the mind of Christ, having grieved the Holy Spirit, our pride, hypocrisy, and impatience, our self-indulgent appetites and ways, our exploitation of others, our anger at our own frustration, our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves, our ‘intemperate’ love of worldly goods and comforts, dishonesty in daily life and work, negligence in prayer and worship, failure to commend the faith that is in us, wrongs we’ve done, blindness to human need and suffering, indifference to injustice and cruelty, false judgements, uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us, waste and pollution of creation, and lack of concern for those who come after us. (BCP)

Like the Rich Young Ruler in Matthew 19, I confess that I want Jesus to look at the fact that I haven’t murdered anybody and give me a gold star. The Litany of Penitence is a wake-up call that reminds me that God’s standard for me is higher than that. Thankfully, we have access to God’s mercy and grace-and God’s unfailing love. 

With that in mind, I encourage each of us to enter into this Lenten season with renewed intentionality. There are all kinds of offerings at St. Luke’s this Lent where we can support each other in the work of penance and repentance. Beside the wisdom you’ll find in this daily Blog, which is written by members of St. Luke’s, the Adult Faith Formation Team will be hosting “Becoming Beloved Community” Sundays after church from March 9-April 6. There will be Contemplative Eucharist on Thursday evenings which will be followed by Bible Study. “Loved into Clarity”, created by our own Father Jarrett, is a Day-by-Day guide through Lent using the Prayer of Examen as a spiritual practice.  Find the one or ones that best suit you. 

As we move forward, foreheads anointed with the reminder of our mortality, lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness; let’s set our eyes on a holy Lent, a fast that is acceptable to the Lord; looking at the words of Isaiah for guidance. It is familiar to many of us; when I find myself nodding along in familiarity with Scripture, I find it helpful to turn to a different translation for fresh eyes and understanding.  Here’s Isaiah 58:5b-9 from the Message:

“Do you call that fasting,

    a fast day that I, God, would like?

This is the kind of fast day I’m after:

    to break the chains of injustice,

    get rid of exploitation in the workplace,

    free the oppressed,

    cancel debts.

What I’m interested in seeing you do is:

    sharing your food with the hungry,

    inviting the homeless poor into your homes,

    putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,

    being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on,

    and your lives will turn around at once.

Your righteousness will pave your way.

    The God of glory will secure your passage.

Then when you pray, God will answer.

    You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’”

Collect for Ash Wednesday:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Deb Dioguardi